Below is the treatment synopsis for the short film Saving Faith screen play. The full screen play, character and setting details were uploaded as a PDF file.
Act I
Scene 1: Discovery and Doubt
Primary Characters: John, Wilbur (squirrel), Pastor Brien
Secondary Characters: John's Father, Mary
Locations: Halcyon - Tree overlooking East River, Medical Clinic
Key Events:
John finds a microchip from Wilbur at their tree hangout.
John investigates the microchip in his father's clinic and discovers the words "FEMALE" and a loyalty pledge to Father of Halcyon.
Flashback to Pastor Brien warning John about the chip implantation.
John's worry intensifies thinking about Mary who received her chip that day.
John makes up his mind to witness the implantation ceremony himself.
Scene 2: The Ceremony
Primary Characters: John, Mary, Father Halcyon
Locations: Halcyon - Church
Key Events:
John sneaks to the church and witnesses the mysterious and disturbing ceremony where Mary is presented before Father Halcyon.
John is filled with anger and fear seeing his father among the elders and hearing Father Halcyon's speech.
Realizing his turn is next, John decides to set things straight.
Scene 3: The Plan
Primary Characters: John, Seth
Locations: John's House - Side Door, John's Bedroom
Key Events:
John returns home stealthily, enters his bedroom, and starts making a plan to escape the chip implantation.
Seth arrives for their game night but ends up getting to know about John's discovery and plan.
Seth expresses his fear and concern, but eventually agrees to support John.
The boys decide to act before dawn.
Scene 4: The Departure
Primary Characters: John, Seth
Locations: John's House - Kitchen, Side Porch, Forest
Key Events:
John and Seth move stealthily through the house, and John takes a spare phone.
The boys run towards the forest, the rain and storm providing a cover for them.
Seth reassures John that he is doing the right thing, they share a farewell hug.
John promises to call Seth from Everton Shores if everything goes as planned.
John disappears into the stormy night, starting his escape journey.
Act 2
Scene 5: John's Journey Begins
Primary Characters: John
Locations: Woods, Cave
Key Events:
John traverses the dense forest, locating a secluded cave.
Inside the cave, John makes a coded call to Brien, laying the groundwork for an upcoming mission.
Scene 6: The Bridge and the Barn
Primary Characters: John
Locations: Woods, Rope Bridge, Barn
Key Events:
John confronts a decrepit rope bridge, his courage and agility put to the test.
Amidst sleet and rain, he manages to successfully cross the perilous bridge.
He reaches a barn and finds a '57 Chevy as directed.
Upon shifting the Chevy into drive, the barn and the vehicle begin to sink, entrapping John.
Scene 7: Discovery of the Underground Lair
Primary Characters: John, Brien, Special Agent Lana Lopez
Locations: Underground Lair
Key Events:
John escapes from the sinking vehicle and uncovers a clandestine office.
He reunites with Brien and meets Special Agent Lana Lopez, becoming aware of the grim situation at Halcyon and pledging to save his sister.
Scene 8: Navigating the Labyrinth
Primary Characters: John, Lana
Locations: Underground Cavern, Shack
Key Events:
Lana and John navigate through a complicated labyrinth, reaching a carved stairway leading to a shack.
They successfully infiltrate an adjacent building, marking the successful completion of the first phase of their mission.
Scene 9: The Tunnel and the Alarm
Primary Characters: John, Lana
Locations: Underground Tunnel
Key Events:
John and Lana crawl through a tight, claustrophobic tunnel, with John grappling with his fear of confinement.
An unexpected alarm indicates that the elders have become aware of John's disappearance.
Scene 10: Strategy and Infiltration
Primary Characters: John, Lana
Locations: Underground Tunnel, Grand Hall, Dimly Lit Room
Key Events:
Amidst the blaring alarm, John and Lana strategize, anticipating severe consequences for Faith.
They blend into a gathering crowd in the grand hall and learn that his sister has been captured, strengthening John's determination to rescue her.
In a dimly lit room, they devise a plan of action after hearing Faith's distressed cry. Lana incapacitates a guard, signaling John to initiate their surprise attack.
Scene 11: The Surgery Room Confrontation
Primary Characters: John, Lana, Faith, Father Halcyon
Locations: Surgery Room
Key Events:
John and Lana burst into the surgery room, finding Faith in the clutches of Father Halcyon.
A battle ensues, during which the chip takes hold of Faith’s mind.
Scene 12: A Heartbreaking Decision
Primary Characters: John, Lana, Faith, Father Halcyon
Locations: Surgery Room, Hallway, Crawl Space
Key Events:
John and Lana fend off the guards. However, Faith is resistant to leaving with John.
Father Halcyon threatens to erase Faith's memories if she departs with John.
In the end, John leaves Faith behind under duress, promising to return for her.
John and Lana obstruct their pursuers by scattering wooden flats in their path before returning to the tight crawl space.
Resting in the crawl space,
Scene 13: The Hunt Intensifies
Primary Characters: John, Lana, Father Halcyon
Locations: Crawl Space
Key Events:
As the alarm continues to blare, John and Lana remain trapped in the crawl space.
John overhears the voices of his father and Father Halcyon outside, but they remain undetected.
As the search intensifies, Halcyon instructs Stumpy to gather the troops, declaring that John and Lana must not escape alive.
Act 3
Scene 14: On the Brink of Danger
Primary Characters: John, Lana, Halcyon, Mr. Smith
Locations: Crawl Space
Key Events:
Hidden within the confining darkness of the crawl space, John and Lana observe the chaos unfolding in the basement below.
Halcyon storms in, reprimanding his men and ordering Faith's move to his home.
Scene 15: An Unlikely Ally
Primary Characters: John, Lana, Mr. Smith
Locations: Crawl Space
Key Events:
John and Lana remain hidden, with John feeling uneasy as Mr. Smith, the groundskeeper, seems to stare straight at their hiding place.
Surprisingly, Mr. Smith subtly signals them to hurry, prompting them to move from the crawl space.
Scene 16: Shared Secrets in the Dark
Primary Characters: John, Lana
Locations: Tunnel
Key Events:
While crawling through the tunnel, Lana reveals that Mr. Smith is her father, who remained in Halcyon to provide inside information to shut it down.
Lana shares her family's old money legacy that provides the perfect cover for their mission.
The pair bond over their shared experiences, with John expressing admiration for Lana's father.
John learns focusing his attention on what another person needs helps him endure his claustrophobia
Scene 17: A Calculated Diversion
Primary Characters: John, Lana
Locations: Tunnel Exit
Key Events:
At the tunnel exit, John and Lana spot guards near an old shack.
Lana decides to create a diversion to allow John to run towards a nearby cave where Brien will be waiting.
Lana successfully places herself near the guards, ready to initiate their plan.
Scene 18: A Run for Freedom
Primary Characters: John, Lana
Locations: Forest, Cave
Key Events:
Lana distracts the guards, allowing John to sprint towards the forest.
Lost at a fork in the path, a bolt of lightning illuminates John's way, leading him to a cave. (Theme realized) One of Brien’s lessons/stories starts to make sense to John
Once inside the cave, John reflects on his transformation and newfound determination to liberate others from Halcyon's influence.
Scene 19: Into the Wild Unknown
Primary Characters: John, Brien
Locations: River, Cave
Key Events:
John receives instructions from Brien via radio and leaves the safety of the cave, trekking along the river's edge in the harsh weather.
Sensing a potential follower, John communicates his fear to Brien, who tries to reassure him.
After a few tense minutes pass with no further sounds, John resumes his journey towards Brien's signal.
Scene 20: Close Call
Primary Characters: John, Brien
Locations: River
Key Events:
Brien's silhouette appears on the opposite side of the river, beckoning John. However, the arrival of hostile forces creates a sense of urgency.
John, spotted by the enemy, dashes towards the water while Brien encourages him from afar.
A gunshot sounds, missing John but hitting Brien, causing him to collapse on the other side of the river.
Scene 21: Leap of Faith
Primary Characters: John, Brien
Locations: River, Everton Shores
Key Events:
Despite his fear and concern for Brien, John plunges into the water, attempting to cross the river.
As he nears the shore, a gunshot hits John's shoulder, causing him to lose balance and fall unconscious on the rocky shore of Everton.
Scene 22: Desperate Escape
Primary Characters: John, Lana, Brien, Sid, Stranger
Locations: Woods, SUV
Key Events:
Aided by a stranger named Sid and others, an unconscious John and injured Brien are carried to Lana's truck, while they're pursued by gunfire.
John regains consciousness during the journey and assists in treating Brien's wound, revealing his background knowledge from his doctor father.
Despite the perilous situation, John feels a spark of hope ignited by Lana and Brien's words, giving him the determination to rescue Faith.
Scene 23: Journey to the In-Between
Primary Characters: John, Brien
Locations: Private Jet
Key Events:
On board a private jet, John engages in a deep conversation with Brien about dealing with hardships.
Brien introduces John to the concept of the "In-Between", a place of faith where one can find solace and resolution.
Intrigued by this idea, John starts to write a letter to Jesus, opening himself up to this new journey.
